It was late night. I, Ruhana Malhotra, was sitting beside my husband , Vineet Malhotra. He was holding my hand in sleep. I was staring at him…

“Kal phir savera hoga, aur tum fir se sab kuch bhool jaoge. Sab kuch naye sire se batana hoga. Thik ho jao vineet, please.“ I said, fresh tears leaked down my eyes.

I wiped my tears and tightened my grip on his hand…

“Nahi, tumhe thik hona hoga Vineet. Main tumhe thik karke rahungi. 6 mahine pehle jo hua, usne hamari zindagi bikher di hai. Par main tumhe wapas zindagi mein laungi. “ I  spoke to myself and laid down on the bed, kept my hand across his waist and slept.

Next Morning

I woke up. He was sleeping holding my hand. I kissed on his forehead and got off the bed. I freshened up and moved out of the room. I prepared coffee for myself. Meanwhile, the doorbell rang and I opened the door. It was my father, Sanjay Dobriyal. I pulled him in..

“Papa, aap itni subah yahan? “ I asked.

“Tumse milne aa gaya tha. Kaisi ho? “ he asked.

“Thik hoon Dad. “ I replied.

He looked at me… “Vineet kaisa hai? “ he asked.

I smiled lightly.. “Thik hi hai dad. “ I replied.

“Beta tu kab tak usey sambhalegi? Let doctors do it. “ he said.

“No papa. Main sambhal sakti hoon Vineet ko. Han usey roz sab kuch batana padta hai, par hum khush hain. “ I said.

“Tujhe andaza hai mujhe kitni takleef hoti hai,tujhe yun dekhkar. Beta hospital mein ache se treatment hoga. “ he said.

“Main jaanti hoon wo log kya karenge. Main sambhal lungi. Vineet ko unke treatment ki nahi pyar aur care ki zarurat hai. Main ek baar Vineet se door hui thi, ab nahi hona chahti. Mujhe mere haal pe chhod dijiye papa. “ I said, tears were brimming my eyes.

He kept his hand on my head, while I hugged him, breaking into tears. He patted my head…

“Ab jo tune socha hai, wo karke dikha. Hamesha se jo tune chaha, wo paaya hai tune. Ab bhi, main jaanta hoon, tu Vineet ko thik kar legi. “ he said.

I smiled and nodded affirmatively. He wiped my tears and left, pecking a kiss on my head. I moved inside the room and found Vineet awake. He was sitting scaredly. Indeed, he had lost the memories of the previous day.

I sat near him. He looked at me…

“Kaun ho tum? “ he asked.

“Main Ruhana, tumhari dost. “ I spoke, softly.

“Acha, lekin main tumhe nahi jaanta. “ he spoke kiddishly.

I smiled.. “Acha toh ab jaan lo. Hum toh yahin rehte hai na  saath mein. “ I spoke.

He stared at me. Usually, I would gaze down at his stare. But since last few months, he was no less than a kid. My phone rang.

“Yes! I will be there with him. Main jaldi aa jaungi. Thank you so much. “ I replied on the phone and disconnected the call.

I saw him staring at me.

“Kahan ja rahi ho?”he asked .

“Haan, tum bhi chaloge mere saath.” I said.

He clapped his hands like a child but then glanced at me sadly.. “par main tumhare sath kyun jaun? Main tumhe nahi jaanta. “ he said innocently.

I smiled… “Arey dost hoon na main tumhari. Chalo ab taiyar ho jao. “ I said and took him into the washroom.

He freshened up, I took out his clothes. Some memories flashed in my mind…

“hamari shadi ke baad bhi sab kuch pehle jaisa hi rahega. Infact main aaram karunga aur tum kaam. Subah tum mere liye chai banaogi, mere kapde nikal ke rakhogi. Aur tie bhi bandhogi, hai na? Hamesha ki tarah. Aur main bas tumhe dekhta rahunga.“

It was all he said. Yes it was partially true. He would stare at me questioningly. He didn't even remember me, but i had to be by her side. But I had to help him wearing clothes, have to make his hair and sometimes even make him eat food.

My trance was broken when some water drops landed on my face. I looked at him, he was giggling and trying to splash water on me by shaking his head.

“bas vineet! Aise mat karo. Chalo ab yahan baitho. “ i made him sit and began wiping his hair with another towel.

He was playing with his fingers and suddenly whistled. I smiled..

“ye kisne sikhaya tumhe? “ I asked.

“Wo tv mein… “ he said.

I smiled. He said… “Wo usme ek aadmi aise bajata hai. “ he said and again whistled.

I smiled, for a moment, I thought  my Vineet is back. Because he used to whistle in the same manner. But he had forgotten about his own being.

He chided me…

“Tumne kaha tha hum bahar jayenge. Chalo na. “ He said.

I nodded… “Haan chalo. “ I picked up my purse and held his hand and  moved out of the house.

The weather was cloudy. He got happy seeing the weather. I took out the car and we left the home.

To Be Continued.

What landed Vineet in such a state?
Will Ruhana be able to handle him?
Or there will be someone making their bonding strong?
Stay tuned.